London’s Borough Market is a mecca of food and foodies, where for more than 1,000 years merchants sand farmers have plied their wares to hungry and unsuspecting passerby. Located just off the London Bridge, you can find anything from fresh peasant and Breton oysters to gourmet English cheeses and white truffle oil. It’s the place to head for those odd, eccentric ingredients (can you say bee pollen?) as well as those typically English delights—plum bread and pork pies, to name a few.

Wander Around

You won’t want to spoil the trip by rushing things: take your time before buying, wander around, scout out quality and prices. Sample a few cheese cubes from Neal’s Yard Dairy. Pick up some wild frilly mushrooms or aged beef. Visit Backhaus Bakery for their German cakes or Sicily in London for their fresh path.

When’s the Best time to Go?

Borough Market is London’s biggest, and can often be chock-full of locals and visitors alike, especially late morning on weekends. It’s best to go during Thursday or Friday, or early in the morning on Saturday.

Lunch

After an hour or two perusing the market, grab a quick bite or coffee at the Monmouth stand. Or sit down at one of the many restaurants: Tapas Brindisa for its Spanish tapas, Wright Brothers for their fried prawns and Kaposein for their raclettes. Or grab a fresh baguette sandwich at Hobbs Meat Roast. For an after-meal beer, the best pints are to be found at the Royal Oak or Gladstone Arms. You can find full bottles to take home at the Wine Wharf of Brewers Wharf.

Go Wild

Here’s the time to go a-shopping! After you’ve perused to your heart’s delight, hit the vendors and pick up your favorites: whether it is pork sausage, duck confit, or sea asparagus, you’re sure to find it at the Market!